Frequently Asked Questions
About Us | About Staying Here | About Donating to the House | About Volunteering
About Us
What is a Ronald McDonald House?
The Ronald McDonald House is a “home away from home” for families who must travel hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles to seek medical treatment for their children.
The House provides shelter and support to families facing difficult days and long nights. Families who stay at the Ronald McDonald House share their stories and gain new insights as they meet children and parents with similar concerns. The House is a place to share hopes and dreams.
Thanks to the caring support of volunteers and staff, the burdens shared become a bit lighter – easing the pain of some very special people.
Your support of the Ronald McDonald House says you care and lets you reach out to these children and their families. Contributions are tax deductible.
What are the facilities like? How many rooms do you have? How many can stay in the room?
The House has 42 guestrooms or "bedrooms". Each room has a queen size bed and a twin bed with a trundle bed underneath or twin bunkbeds. We can accommodate five people per guest room. There is also a private bathroom. Each room has a closet, drawers, shelves, desk area, telephone with voicemail and TV& DVD player.
How is the Ronald McDonald House supported?
General donations amount to 55% of the House budget, while revenue from special events makes up about 25%. Guest receipts (the $10/night families are asked to contribute toward their stay) make up about 10% of the annual budget for the House. 10% of the annual revenues are generated from "other" miscellaneous sources
But I thought McDonald's funded the Ronald McDonald Houses. . .
The McDonald's Corporation and McDonald's restaurant owners support Ronald McDonald Houses in many ways, and we are very grateful for all they do for us. McDonalds sponsor special events, support the poptab program, and collect donations through their store canisters, a percentage of which, support the Rochester Ronald McDonald House. However, we simply couldn't begin to afford to run our House year in and year out without the financial support of individuals, groups, and organizations in our community.
Are all the Ronald McDonald Houses connected?
Ronald McDonald Houses are all licensees of the McDonald's Corporation, and McDonald's provides many support services to the House program. However, each of the Ronald McDonald House are separate, individual non-profit 501(c) 3 Corporations, with their own board of trustees, supported by individuals, organizations and businesses within their community.
About Staying Here
What are the facilities like? How many rooms do you have? Do you have a pool? How many can stay in the room? Do you do tours?
The House has 42 guestrooms or "bedrooms". Each room has a queen size bed and a twin bed with a trundle bed underneath or twin bunkbeds. There is also a private bathroom. Each room has a closet, drawers, shelves, desk area, telephone with voicemail and TV& DVD player. We do not have a pool. Room occupancy is limited to five people, as determined by Rochester fire code. We provide tours of the first floor of the Ronald McDonald House to the general public and eligible families can contact us once they have arrived in Rochester to schedule a full House tour 507-282-3955.
Can families make a reservation? Do they need a referral? If you are full, what do families do?
The Ronald McDonald House is filled on a first come, first served basis. We are not able to take reservations... because families with ill children are not able to predict when their children will get better and when they'll get to go home. For all new families, please read and follow the steps outlined below to allow us to best serve you upon your arrival in Rochester.
- Once you’ve arrived in Rochester, call the Ronald McDonald House (507) 282-3955 to check on availability and to visit to a Families Services staff person.
- Our staff will advise you on how to obtain a referral from Mayo Clinic Social Services. IMPORTANT: Mayo Clinic referrals are required before a family can check into the Ronald McDonald House but they are not necessary to be placed on our wait list and receive our reduced hotel rates.
The Mayo Clinic Social Service office is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to Noon and 1 pm to 5 pm at 507-284-2131. Their offices are located in the Gonda Building on the first floor.
They are also available Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm. They may have a different location on the weekends so you will have to call 507-284-2511 and ask to speak to the on-call Social Worker. At this time they will let you know where you would meet them.
Once you have met with Mayo Social Services, please call the Ronald McDonald House (507) 282-3955 to check your status and confirm that your referral has been received.
Does the House provide any other services besides residency?
Thanks to donations there are pantry foods available. Just enough for a light snack or a quick meal.
A shuttle service takes families to and from the clinic and hospital. M-F daytime hours.
At times we have grocery & gas gift certificates donated which are of great help to families facing financial stress. Donated phone cards also help our families keep in touch with loved ones at home.
Community members provide opportunities for our guests to get together at House Dinners and other fun activities in the house.
Tutors can be arranged for children by the Rochester Public School system.
Area support groups meet at the Ronald McDonald House monthly and families are encouraged to attend their meetings.
How long do family/kids stay? What is the average stay?
Families are allowed to stay as long as their child is receiving medical care. Sometimes this may be only a few nights and sometimes this extends to 6 months or more. The average stay varies but we often see families staying 7-10 days.
Who stays with the families/kids?
Most often it is the patient's parent or parents. We also have siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, foster parents, and friends. Anyone who is "family" to the child is welcome here.
Does the House have medical personal on staff?
No. The House is a lodging facility that gives families a respite from the hospital. If you can perform medical procedures within your own home, it is generally allowed at the Ronald McDonald House.
Does the House provide counseling?
There is no formal counseling program, but the families do get support from the staff, the volunteers, and the other families. Families do a wonderful job of counseling each other. They share fears and hope as well as practical information about medications and treatments and often lasting friendships are made. A Child Life Specialist and other family service staff are available to suggest community counseling resources for the patient and members of the family. The Ronald McDonald House also hosts support group meetings. Families are encouraged to attend.
Does the House provide food for families?
The Ronald McDonald House has a kitchen pantry of many stable food items, many and a milk machine, as donated to the House by a caring community. Each family is responsible for cooking their own meals in the common kitchen. They are welcome to use these donated items and are assigned refrigerator and pantry space for the foods they purchase.
Is smoking permitted at the House?
No, smoking is not permitted in the House or on Ronald McDonald House property.
Is there a maid service?
No. The House has a housekeeper who cleans the common areas of the House, but families are expected to keep their own rooms clean, do their own dishes in the kitchen, and their own laundry. Families are away from their own homes often waiting for lengths of time, so they often ask for more to do.
Are there babysitting services?
The House does not provide babysitting service. Parents and adult caregivers are responsible for their own children at all times providing supervision of any child under the age of 18.
About Donating To the House
How is the Ronald McDonald House supported?
General donations amount to 50% of the House budget, while revenue from special events makes up about 25%. Guest receipts (the $10/night families are asked to contribute toward their stay) make up about 10% of the annual budget for the House.
10% of the annual revenues are generated from "other" miscellaneous sources
What is the legal name of the Rochester House?
Our legal name is Ronald McDonald House of Rochester, Minnesota, Inc.
But I thought McDonald's funded the Ronald McDonald Houses. . .
The McDonald's Corporation and McDonald's restaurant owners support Ronald McDonald Houses in many ways, and we are very grateful for all they do for us. McDonalds sponsor special events, support the poptab program, and collect donations through their store canisters, a percentage of which, support the Rochester Ronald McDonald House. However, we simply couldn't begin to afford to run our House year in and year out without the financial support of individuals, groups, and organizations in our community.
What do you do with the pop tabs? If we collect them, what do we do with it?
Pop tabs are recycled at the current aluminum rate. Your pop tab collection can be brought to the House or to any of the McDonald's restaurants in our area. Many schools and churches also collect the tabs for us. Pop tabs are a great fundraiser bringing in over $10,000 to the House annually. The House will provide you with collection boxes or wraps for cans.
About Volunteering
What are the most pressing needs? How can I help? How do I volunteer?
Share your talent and your time with the families at the Ronald McDonald House. There are many ways to help. Please see the volunteer section of this website for a list of many rewarding ways that you can make a difference at the Ronald McDonald House.
Isn't it hard to work and volunteer there? What is it really like there? How can you handle working there around all that tragedy?
There are certainly very sad moments at the House, but there are many joyous moments as well. We have the opportunity to share in the joy of a child's cure, in the excitement of getting to go home, celebrating a birthday or reaching a milestone. This is very much a home. There is a great deal of activity. Families are preparing meals, doing laundry or catching up on homework from home. We are here to provide support, a kind word, a shoulder to cry on or someone to laugh with.
Can I come and play with the kids, or visit with the families?
Groups and organizations are invited to plan House dinners or special events for families here. Due to the varying medical conditions of the children here, we are unable to arrange individual visits with children. Volunteers in the House must be 16 years old. Visitors must be healthy and free of any infectious condition.
